Social Networking - The 403rd Wing and Beyond

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  Social networking is the latest venue available to our Citizen Airmen, providing Airmen with a hands-on opportunity to tell others, on a global level, about the Air Force experience. The Air Force Reserve, and especially the 403rd Wing, has been charting new territory in this communication frontier. 

What exactly is social networking? According to the New Media and the Air Force publication (Air Force Public Affairs Agency), social networking is defined as online places where users can create profiles, and then socialize with others using a range of social media tools, including blogs, video, images, tags, lists of friends, forums and messages. 

The terminology alone might seem intimidating to some people, but that shouldn't be a reason to scare them away from using different social networks. Many of the websites out there are user-friendly and free to join and access, which is a nice plus. 

"This is the way the current generation communicates, and the Air Force needs to keep up with the times," said Brig. Gen. James Muscatell, 403rd Wing commander. "If we want to stay relevant to them and in their line of sight we need to jump in with both feet into these social networking venues." 

In fact, many reservists already use some form of social networking on a regular basis, mainly to keep in touch with family and friends. 

Staff Sgt. Bernice McCray, an 815th Airlift Squadron command and support staff representative, has accounts on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Classmates websites, which she uses to find and keep in contact with old friends from high school and the military, as well as current friends and relatives. 

"It's a great way to keep in touch," said Sergeant McCray. "A lot of times in the military you make friends with people and then they leave for assignments at other bases. This is a good way to stay posted as to what's going on in their lives." 

The wing currently has a presence on several social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. 

Facebook (www.facebook.com) allows people to create individual profiles, upload photos and make text updates. Users configure their profiles to be viewed privately or publicly, depending on their needs. Individuals can also create group pages for others to join. Currently, the 403rd has five group pages Facebook members can join: "403rd Wing," "AF Reserve 815th Flying Jennies," "AF Reserve Hurricane Hunters," "41st Aerial Port Squadron" and "403rd Wing Spouses." 

Another social networking site the wing uses is Twitter (www.twitter.com), which is set up almost like a mass text-messaging website. It allows members to post short, 140 character blurbs that can be viewed by whoever happens to be following your particular messages, or "tweets" as they are called. They can also post responses to updates made by other Twitter members they are following. The 403rd currently uses the Twitter profile "403pa" to post messages about upcoming events, headlines and website links to interesting Air Force photos, stories and fun facts. 

Flickr (www.flickr.com) is a social networking site devoted exclusively for posting photos and videos. The wing currently posts many of its pictures on this site, which can be found under the search terms "Hurricane Hunters," "403rd Wing" or "Flying Jennies." 

While social networking is not meant to replace personal, face-to-face interaction, it can, and does, serve as a vital tool for disseminating information to the media, the public and members within the wing. Commanders, first shirts, and supervisors could use websites such as Facebook and Twitter as platforms for passing along details on upcoming training to wing members, while subordinates could use it as a forum for posing questions in ways that are accessible to their peers outside of the work environment. 

"It sounds like a good way to ask questions and find out about upcoming events," said Staff Sgt. Brandy Connor, 403rd Civil Engineering Squadron knowledge operations specialist. "If you ever wanted to know about anything between (Unit Training Assembly) weekends, you could leave a comment and check back later for an answer." 

Members are encouraged to post whatever they would like at their discretion, but as with all communications media used by military members, communication and operations security are still paramount. Reservists are still representing the military and the Air Force Reserve, no matter what venue they use while posting as members of the military. 

That being said, wing and other military members shouldn't feel as if they need to shy away from posting their thoughts, photos and experiences on social networking websites. By using these and other sites, the wing hopes to put both a professional and personal face while telling the Air Force story. 

"We cannot ignore that one of the main ways to communicate and network is through such venues as Facebook, Twitter, etc.," said General Muscatell. "We need to understand and appreciate the different styles and embrace them, not look at them as the enemy or foreign. Bottom line, if we don't embrace these venues, we will be left behind and our story will not be told."